pros·thet·ics: (prs-thtks)
n. (used with a sing. verb)
The branch of medicine or surgery that deals with the production and application of artificial body parts.
Prosthesis (from Greek πρόσθεσις) is an artificial extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of fusing mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control lost by trauma, disease, or defect. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury (traumatic) or missing from birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts. Inside the body, artificial heart valves are in common use with artificial hearts and lungs seeing less common use but under active technology development. Other medical devices and aids that can be considered prosthetics include artificial eyes, palatal obturator, gastric bands, and dentures.
Prosthesis (2009, July 30) In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
"prosthetics." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Answers.com 04 Aug. 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/prosthetics
